Material reducing machine



June 13, 1967 J E, HQFFMAN JR ET AL 33,325,106

MATER IAL REDUC ING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1965 4 Sheeis-heet 1 rllO INVENTORS J. E. HOFFMAN JR, E.A.HENN|NGSEN 8:

A. B. SKROMME ATTORNEY June 33, W67 J. E. k-lQF'FMAN, JR, ETAL y MATERIAL REDUCING MACHII '3 4 Sheets-$heei 2 Filed May 0, 1965 INVENTOR. J, E. HOFFMAN JR, EAJHENNINGSEN &

A.B.SKFXOI\1BME 1 20 @MWZ MT TORNLEY June E3, Fi -9V6? J E. HOFFMAN, JR, ET AL 3,325JW MATERIAL REDUCING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 1965 was mu m $5 6 Tm W WE E R U N A M F F O H E .I

ATTORNEY Junie E53, 315%? J. E. Mow-"MAM, .m, ETAL 3325,16 6

MATERIAL REDUCING MACHINE Filed May 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet I N VEN TORS J. E. HOFFMAN JR,E.A.l-IENNINGSEN 8m A.B.SKROMME k 223M Q WW AT TORNEY United States Patent 3,325,106 MATERIAL REDUCING MACHINE John E. Hoffman, Jr., Moline, Etlar A. Henningsen,

Geneseo, and Arnold B. Skromme, Moline, lllL, as-

signors to Deere & Company, Moline, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 6, 1965, Ser. No. 453,629 12 Claims. (Cl. 241-163) This invention relates to a material reducing device and more particularly relates to a burr mill. Still more particularly this invention relates to a burr mill having a horizontal precrushing drumland burr plates supported on a fore-and-aft extending horizontal shaft.

It is conventional in most burr mills to place the burr plates on a vertical shaft and to feed the material vertically onto the burr plates or into the gap between the burr plates. The material moves through the burr mill primarily by gravity although in some respects the operation of the various rotating elements in the burr mill assembly operates to aid the material in moving downwardly.

. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a burr mill device having a housing that includes a horizontal material reducing chamber and a vertical material delivery chamber oifset to one side of the material reducing chamber. Disposed within the material reducing chamber is a horizontal drive or main shaft extending the full length of the chamber that supports on one portionthereof a precrushing unit operating to break the material into small segments while at the same time moving the material to an end of the chamber that encloses a series of burr plates, part of which is supported for rotation with the shaft.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a support for the burr plates or plate on the shaft, and means for axially moving the plates so that the gap between the fixed and the axially movable plates may be adjusted. It is further proposed to provide with the adjustment a device external of the housing which operates the adjustment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in the aforementioned vertical chamber vertical auger means including upper and lower auger sections supported on a single shaft and adapted to move material downwardly and upwardly respectively. Adjacent the juncture of the upper and lower auger sections is a trash throwing device operating to prevent trash and other material from wrapping about the shaft or center portion of the auger means.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drive means on one end of the horizontal shaft that interconnects the vertical shaft and the horizontal shaft by a second drive means which is adjustable to regulate the speed of rotation of the vertical auger.

The invention therefore relates to a burr mill device comprising a housing structure having a horizontal material reducing chamber and a vertical delivery chamber offset from the material reducing chamber. The material reducing chamber is divided into two portions, one being the precrush or material breaking portion and the other portion, alined with the precrush portion, being a burr plate portion. A horizontal main shaft extends through the material reducing chamber and carries within the precrush portion of the chamber a cylindrical member or drum with radially extending lugs thereon that operate to both break and crush material moving into this portion of the chamber and to move the material axially into the burr plate portion of the chamber. The shaft also car- 'ries at least one burr plate. The burr plate is supported for axial movement along the shaft but is fixed to rotate with the shaft. Cooperating with the rotating burr plate is one or more plates fixed to the housing structure in a 3,325,106 Patented June 13, 1967 gapped relation to the rotating plate. Also supported on the housing and generally surrounding the main shaft is an axially adjustable member that bears against the rotating plate and operates by outside adjustment to open or close the gap between the fixed or rotating plate. Supported in the vertical chamber is an upright auger having upper and lower sections that move material downwardly and upwardly to a midportion of the shaft. At the midportion or at the adjoining ends of the auger sections is a trash throwing device that includes an arcuate portion formed substantially about the axis: of the auger. The arcuate portion is connected to the auger shaft means by radial members and consequently as trash moves onto these radial and arcuate portions it will be discarded outwardly from the shaft. Since it is necessary that various materials will move into the burr mill, it is also desirous to be able to vary the rate of rotation of the vertical auger. Consequently the vertical auger shaft and the horizontal shaft of the material reducing elements are interconnected to rotate in unison. However, the drive connection between the horizontal shaft and vertical shaft is adjustable so that the vertical shaft may be rotated at various speeds.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following description and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front and side mill device.

FIG. 2 is a fore-and-a-ft extending vertical sectional view substantially along the fore-and-aft center line of the burr mill but with portions slightly offset to one side of the fore-and-aft center line.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view taken within the housing at the rear end of the unit showing the drive mechanism to various of the parts of the unit.

The burr mill device is supported primarily on a main frame is composed of front, rear, and side walls shaped into a rectangular-shaped unit. Extending forwardly from the front wall of the frame ltl is a draft member or tongue 11 having at its forward end means for attachment to the drawbar of a tractor. The frame It) is supported on a pair of transversely spaced support wheels 12, 13. When not attached to the tractor, the entire assembly is counter-balanced to rest on a supporting stand 14 depending from the underside of the tongue 11. A power shaft assembly 15 is provided above the tongue 11 and has at its forward end means for attachment to the power takeoff shaft of a tractor, not shown. Supported on the main frame 10 is a housing structure that includes front and rear transverse wall members 26, 21 respectively. Between the walls 20, 21 is a horizontal semi-cylindrical casing 22 having an inner liner 23 with horizontal fore-and-aft extending breaker bars 24 projecting inwardly therefrom. The liner 2?: is replaceable and is held on the casing 22 by bolts 25. As will later become apparent, the casing 22 forms part of a material reducing chamber and may be referred to asthe precrushing part of the material reducing chamber.

Rigid with and extending forwardly from the front side of the vertical wall 20 is a cylindrical-shaped wall section 26 having a downwardly opening material discharge outlet 27. Closing the forward side of the cylindrical wall 26 is a cone-shaped cap 28 having hand bolts 29 for attachment to the wall 26. The cap 28, wall 26, and

perspective view of the burr wall form a burr plate portion of the chamber that is horizontally alined with the precrush portion defined by the semi-cylindrical wall 22. The two chambers form the entire material reducing chamber of the burr mill device.

Provided within the material reducing chamber and concentric with the semi-cylindrical wall 22 and cylindrical wall 26 is a main shaft having a forward end 36 projecting forwardly of the cap 28 and adapted for a driving connection with the power shaft 15. The shaft 35 has a rear end portion 37 that projects rearwardly of the wall 21. Fixed to rotate with the shaft 35 is a crusher roll 38 having surface lugs 39 that operate in conjunction with the breaker bars 24 to precrush or break material moving through the unit. The lugs 39 operate not only to crush the material but are so spaced and located in a spiral fashion about the surface of the crusher roll 38 that they operate also to move the material axially forwardly into the portion of the chamber containing the burr plates.

A rotating burr plate structure 40 is splined to the shaft 35 so as to permit limited axial movement along the shaft 35. The plate structure 40 includes a radial plate portion 41 and an integral central hub portion 42 that fits on the shaft 35. The hub portion 42 has a conical-shaped outer surface that tends to guide the material received from the precrusher roll 38 radially outwardly. The plate portion has fixed thereto a rearwardly facing and detachable annular burr disk 43. Cooperating with the rotating burr plate structure 44) is a fixed plate structure 45 that bears against the forward side of the vertical wall 20 and is held against rotation by means of rearwardly projecting lugs 46 that extend through suitable openings, not shown, in the wall 20. The plate structure 45 includes a main radial plate support 47 that carries a detachable burr disk 48 thereon that faces the burr disk 43 of the rotating plate structure 40. In a conventional manner the burr disks 43, 48 have teeth that face one another across a small gap and operate to grind or reduce material passing between the plates.

A yieldable rubber annular member or collar 50 is positioned forwardly of the hub 42. A retainer cap 51 is positioned forwardly of the rubber member 50 and is retained on the shaft 35 for axial movement. The cap 28 of the main housing has an opening formed about the shaft 35 that carries a journal support 52 having suitable thrust bearings 53 therein. The cap 28 has cast on its inner surface an annular axially extending flange 54. Bolted to the flange 54 is an inwardly extending annular ring 55 that bears against a rear side of a bevel gear 56. The gear 56 has an internally threaded hub forming part of a threaded juncture 58 with the outer surface of the journal support 52. The teeth 57 of the gear 56 face forwardly. Rotation of the gear 56 occurs by a pinion 60 that engages the gear teeth 57, The pinion 60 is fixed to the lower end of an upwardly projecting crank 61 extending through the cap 28. A swivel handle 62 is provided on the crank 61 externally of the entire housing so that the gear 56 may be adjusted externally of the housing. A set screw 63 extends through the cap 28 and engages the crank 61 for locking it in its desired position. In operation, therefore, the gap between the two plate structures 40, 45 as well as the pressure on the material may be adjusted by turning the crank 61 so as to cause the bearing support 52 to move axially relative to the shaft 36. Movement of the support 52 effects the amount of pressure of the rubber annular collar 50 against the hub 42 of the plate 41.

The housing also includes an upright material delivery chamber 65 offset to one side of the material reducing chamber portion formed by the casing 22. The upright material delivery chamber 65 includes an upper receiving section 67 and a lower hopper section 66, the latter being formed at one end by the upright wall 21 and having a forward upright wall 68 spaced therefrom. The walls 21, 68 extend transversely in respect to the fore-and-aft direction. The walls are interconnected by a pair of inclined and downwardly converging panels 69', 70. The panel 70' has its lower edge above the crusher roll 38 and is spaced vertically from an underlying slightly inclined plate 73 extending between the vertical walls 21, 68 and defines therewith a material receiving opening between the lower chamber section 66 and the material reducing chamber portion defined by the semi-cylindrical wall 22. The panel 73 has a downwardly extending flange that is bolted to the casing 22 by the aforementioned bolts 25. The lower chamber 66 has its upper edges interconnected by a horizontally disposed panel or plate 71, the latter having an enlarged circular opening for passing material. The upper chamber portion 67 is composed of an upright U-shaped panel 75 having a lower annular portion 76 positioned above and substantially the same size as the opening in the horizontal plate or panel 71. The U-shaped portion 75 has parallel upright sides 77, 78 extending rearwardly. The lower edges of the sides 77, 78 are inclined and are interconnected by a laterally disposed inclined panel 79 extending to the upper edge of the annular portion 76. The U-shaped panel 75 is partially closed on its upper side by a horizontal panel 80 that is fixed to the upper edge of the panel 75. The upper chamber section 65 is swivelled on the lower chamber sect-ion 66 by a swivel juncture 81 composed of a pair of rings 82, 83. The rings are L-shaped with the vertical flange of the upper ring being welded to the annular portion 76. The lower edge of the ring 83 is welded to the surface of the horizontal plate 71. When assembled, the horizontal annular flanges of the rings 82, 83 slidably engage one another. A U-shaped connecting ring 84 extends over the horizontal flanges and permits the entire upper section 67 to swivel on the lower ring 83 to the desired angular location. The ring 84 may be removed from the horizontal flanges so as to permit the entire unit to be disassembled.

Disposed within the vertical chamber 65 is an auger device having a central upright auger shaft 91. Supported on the auger shaft 91 are upper and lower auger flights 92, 93 disposed, upon rotation of the shaft 91, to move material downwardly and upwardly respectively. The flighting 93 is directly laterally offset of the crusher drum 38. The upper flighting 92 is disposed in the upper chamber section 67 although a small lower portion thereof extends into the lower section 66 of the vertical chamber 65. The shaft 91 is supported for rotation in upper and lower gear boxes 94, 95. It is the purpose of the auger structure 90 to prevent clogging of the material within the material delivery chamber 65 by keeping the material moving so that it will not tend to clog the mouth of the unit.

When using an auger, particularly when operating with such material as corn, it is often difficult to prevent material from wrapping around the auger shaft. For this purpose there is provided on the auger structure 90 a trash throwing device 96 that is fixed to the shaft 90 at the juncture of the upper and lower auger fiightings 92, 93. The throwing device 96 is composed of a radial arm 98 that extends from the shaft 91 to the forward edge of a trailing arcuate-shaped finger or element 97 that is slightly outwardly of the periphery of the flighting 93 and is formed about the axis of the shaft 91. The trailing end of the finger 97 tapers so as to permit ease in sliding material off of the finger. A small gusset plate 99 is provided between the radial portion 98 and the finger portion 97 so as to strengthen the entire unit.

Means for discharging material from the burr mill includes a short fore-and-aft extending horizontal auger 1% carried on a horizontal auger shaft 101 and disposed to receive material through the discharge opening 2-7 at the base of the burr plate housing portion. A short auger tube 102 is disposed beneath the opening 27 and contains the rear portion of the auger flighting 10. The tube 102 extends to the forward wall of the main frame 10.

Fixed to the front wall is an elbow casting 103 having a horizontal tubular section 104 alined with the tube 102 and extending forwardly a short distance. The elbow 103 further includes a vertical tubular section 105 disposed to one side of the horizontal portion 104. Fixed on the forward end of the auger shaft 101 is a pair of paddles 106 that operate to throw or sling the material outwardly and slightly vertically into the path of flighting 107 of a vertical auger. The flighting 107 is supported on a vertical auger shaft 108.

Extending upwardly from the vertical section 105 and alined therewith is a vertical tube 110. The upper edge of the elbow portion 105 and the lower edge of the tube 110 are connected by a swivel juncture 111 which permits the tube 110 to move angularly about its axis. Extending outwardly from the upper end of the tube 110 is a horizontal extension 112 having an augar, not shown, contained therein feeding material from the upper end of the auger flighting 107 laterally outwardly to a discharge spout 113. Extending from the housing is a brace or structural member 114 that is rigidly connected to a collar 115 surrounding the tube 110 and having a lock nut 116 that engages the tube and restricts or locks it against swivelling. Positioned above the collar 115 is a pair of gripping bars 117 that extends outwardly from the tube 110 and may be utilized to manually rotate the tube about its axis. Consequently the entire auger assembly and particularly the discharge spout 113 may be positioned in various and desired locations relative to the entire as sembly.

Power for operating the entire assembly is received through the power shaft and from thence through the main shaft 35 of the material reducing portion of the burr mill. A countershaft 120 extends into the gear box 95 and operates to drive the vertical auger 90. The countershaft 120 receives its power from the main shaft 35 by means of a V-belt 121 played over an adjustable pulley 122 fixed to the shaft 120 and operated by a control lever 123. The forward portion or side 124 of the pulley 122 is adjustable fore or aft to permit the belt 121 to seat at various radial dimensions from the axis of the shaft 120'. The belt 121 is also played over a pulley 125 that is spring-loaded to adjust itself to compensate for slackness or take-up in the belt 121 due to adjusting the side 124 of the pulley 122. The gear box 95 contains a pair of bevel gears, not shown, driving the vertical auger 90 from the jackshaft 120. By adjusting the lever 123, therefore, the rate of rotation of the vertical auger 90 may be adjusted. Power for operating the horizontal auger section 100 is also received from the main shaft 35 by a chain drive 126 that includes a sprocket supported on the shaft 35 and a sprocket 127 fixed on the shaft 101. The shaft 101 is supported for rotation on the main frame 10. The shaft 101 drives a chain 130 that extends downwardly over a sprocket 131 carried on a fore-and-aft extending shaft 132 that has its forward end extending into a bevel gear transmission 133 at the forward end of the frame 10. The transmission operates to rotate the vertical auger shaft 108 of the discharge auger assembly.

Extending outwardly of the gear transmission 94 is a horizontal feeder drive shaft 135 with a terminal end outside of the wall 78. A fitting 136 is carried on the shaft and is adapted to transmit power, when desired, to an elevator or feeder attachment, not shown, that may be utilized to feed material into the delivery chamber 65. Therefore by adjusting the lever 123, the rate of rotation of the vertical auger shaft and the feeder drive shaft 135 may be made to operate at the desired amount so as to feed and agitate the material in correct proportion as the material enters the burr mill.

There has thus been described a burr mill comprising a housing having a horizontal material reducing chamber formed in part by a precrushing portion 22 and in part of a burr plate portion formed by the cylindrical member 26. A shaft 35 extends horizontally through both of the chamber portions and has its forward end adapted for receiving power from the power take-01f shaft of the tractor. Provided in the precrushing portion is a crushing roll or drum 38 having peripheral surface lugs 39 that are adapted to break the material prior to its entry into the burr plate portion of the chamber. There are a pair of burr plate structures 40, 45 within the plate portion of the chamber, one of the plate structures being fixed against motion and the other being fixed with the foreand-aft extending horizontal shaft so as to rotate therewith. The member on the shaft is supported for axial movement and there is provided adjusting mechanism capable of moving the adjustable burr plate 45 toward or away from the fixed burr plate 40. The adjusting mechanism includes an annular collar 50 of rubber or other yieldable material and a journal support that operates to bear against the annular rubber collar 50. The journal support 52 is threadedly attached to the housing so as to move axially upon rotation. The adjusting mechanism includes a crank and a pair of intermeshing gears 56, 60 that turns the support 52 within the housing for opening or closing the gap between the burr plate portions 40, 45.

The housing also includes a vertical chamber 65 having its lower end opening into the material reducing chamber. An upright auger structure is disposed within the vertical chamber and includes upper and lower auger sections 92, 93 that move the material downwardly and upwardly respectively so as to agitate the material within the vertical chamber. A trash throwing finger 96 is provided at the juncture between the upper and lower auger fiightings and operates to prevent wrapping of material about the fiightings. A feeder or elevator drive shaft is drivingly connected to the upper end of the auger shaft and may be connected to an elevator for purposes of driving the elevator in order to feed material to the hopper. There has also been shown an interconnecting drive means between the end of the horizontal shaft 35 and the V61: tical shaft 91 which causes the shaft to rotate in unison. However, the drive means is adjustable so as to permit an increase or decrease in the speed of rotation of the vertical drive shaft and the feed rate of an elevator, if connected, irrespective of the rate of rotation of the horizontal shaft 35.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should be recognized that other forms and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, while the preferred form has been shown and described in detail for the purpose of clearly and concisely illustrating the principles of the invention there is no intention to limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad concepts set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A burr mill comprising: a housing including a horizontal material reducing chamber including alined precrushing and burr plate chamber portions, and a vertical material delivery chamber offset to one side of the horizontal chamber and opening into the precrushing portion of the material reducing chamber; a horizontal driven shaft supported by the housing and extending through the reducing chamber; a precrushing drum supported on the shaft in the precrushing portion of the chamber and having a lugged outer surface adapted to break material in the portion of the chamber and move the broken portions toward the burr portion of the chamber; radial burr plates in the burr portion of the chamber with part thereof being fixed against rotation to the housing, and part thereof being in gapped relation to the former part and supported on the shaft to rotate therewith; an upright shaft supported by the housing within the material delivery chamber; auger means on the shaft including upper and lower auger sections adapted to move material downwardly and upwardly respectively with the lower section being laterally opposite the precrushing drum.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a trash thrower between. the adjacent ends of the upper and lower sections including an arcuate shaped portion radially spaced from and supported radially by the vertical shaft.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a drive extending between the horizontal and vertical shafts with the drive being adjustable to vary the rate of rotation of the auger independently of the rate of rotation of the horizontal shaft.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which the part of the burr plates supported on the shaft is axially movable thereon and further characterized by means for adjusting the burr plates part including collar means formed about the shaft and bearing against the respective movable part, with a portion of the collar means being axially threadedly mounted in the housing chamber whereby rotation thereof will affect the size of gap between the burr plates.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by a driven gear being rigid with the collar portion; a drive gear supported for rotation within the chamber; and a manual control supported on the housing for rotating the drive gear with operating portions thereof external of the chamber.

6. In a burr mill including a housing with a material reducing chamber and material reducing structure therein, the improvement residing in a vertical material delivery chamber opening into the material reducing chamber; an upright shaft supported by the housing within the material delivery chamber; auger means on the shaft including upper and lower auger sections adapted to move material downwardly and upwardly respectively, the lower section being opposite and offset to one side of the material reducing structure; and a trash thrower between the adjacent ends of the upper and lower sections including an arcuate-s'haped portion radially spaced from the shaft having a leading edge and trailing therefrom in respect to the direction of shaft rotation.

7. In a burr mill including a housing with a material reducing chamber and material reducing structure therein, the improvement residing in a vertical material delivery chamber opening into the material reducing chamber; an upright shaft supported by the housing within the material delivery chamber; auger means on the shaft including upper and lower auger sections adapted to move material downwardly and upwardly respectively; and an arcuate-shaped trash thrower interjoining the adjacent ends of the upper and lower sections supported on and in spaced relation to the shaft and extending in a trailing direction from peripherally outwardly of the auger sections.

8. A burr mill comprising: a housing including a horizontal material reducing chamber including alined precrushing and burr plate chamber portions, and a vertical material delivery chamber offset to one side of the horizontal chamber and opening into the precrushing portion of the material reducing chamber; a horizontal shaft journaled in the housing and extending through the reducing chamber with opposite ends thereof outward of the chamber; a drum supported in the precrushing portion on the shaft and having a lugged outer surface adapted to break material in the portion of the chamber and move the material toward and into the :burr plate portion of the chamber; radial burr plates in the burr portion of the chamber with part thereof being fixed against rotation to the housing, and part thereof being in gapped relation to the former part and supported on the shaft to rotate with and to move axially thereon; a member surrounding the shaft and supported on the housing for axial adjustment in respect to the shaft, the member being operatively connected to the par-t of the burr plates on the shaft; adjusting mechanism connected to the member for adjusting the member and the axially adjustable part of the burr plates to reduce or increase the gap between the parts; an upright shaft supported by the housing within the material delivery chamber portion; auger means on the shaft including upper and lower auger sections adapted to move material downwardly and upwardly respectively; a trash thrower between the adjacent ends of the upper and lower sections including an arcuate-shaped portion radially spaced from the shaft having a leading edge and trailing therefrom in respect to the direction of shaft rotation, and a radial portion extending inwardly from the leading edge; and drive means extending between an end of the horizontal main shaft and vertical auger mean for rotating the latter, the drive means being adjustable to adjust the rate of rotation of the auger means in respect to the rate of rotation of the horizontal shaft.

9. A burr mill comprising: a housing including a horizontal material reducing chamber including alined precrushing and burr plate chamber portions, and a vertical material delivery chamber offset to one side of the horizontal chamber and opening into the precrushing portion of the material reducing chamber; a horizontal shaft journaled in the housing and extending through the reducing chamber with opposite ends thereof outward of the chamber; a drum supported in the precrushing portion on the shaft and having a lugged outer surface adapted to break material in the portion of the chamber and move the material toward and into the burr plate portion of the chamber; radial burr plates in the burr portion of the chamber with part thereof being fixed against rotation to the housing, and part thereof being in gapped relation to the former part and supported on the shaft to rotate with and to move axially thereon; a member surrounding the shaft and supported on the housing for axial adjustment in respect to the shaft, the member being operatively connected to the part of the burr plates on the shaft; adjusting mechanism connected to the member for adjusting the member and the axially adjustable part of the burr plates to reduce or increase the gap between the parts; an upright shaft supported by the housing within the material delivery chamber portion; material agitating means on the shaft; and drive means extending between an end of the horizontal main shaft and vertical shaft for rotating the latter, the drive means being adjustable to adjust the rate of rotation of the agitating means in respect to the rate of rotation of the horizontal shaft.

10. A burr mill comprising: a housing including a horizontal material reducing chamber including alined precrushing and burr'plate chamber portions, and a vertical material delivery chamber offset to one side of the horizontal chamber and opening into the precrushing portion of the material reducing chamber; a horizontal shaft journaled in the housing and extending through the reducing chamber'with opposite ends thereof outward of the chamber; a drum supported in the precrushing portion on the shaft and having a lugged outer surface adapted to break material in the portion of the chamber and move the material toward and into the burr plate portion of the chamber; cooperating burr plates in the burr portion of the chamber with part thereof being fixed against rotation to the housing, and part thereof being supported on the shaft to rotate therewith; an upright shaft supported by the housing within the material delivery chamber portion; material agitating means on the shaft; and drive means extending between an end of the horizontal main shaft and vertical shaft for rotating the latter, the drive means being adjustable to adjust the rate of rotation of the agitating means in respect to the rate of rotation of the horizontal shaft.

11. A burr mill comprising: a housing including a horizontal material reducing chamber including horizontally alined precrushing and burr plate chamber portions; a horizontal shaft journaled on the housing and extending through the reducing chamber with opposite ends thereof outward of the chamber; a drum formed about and sup ported on the shaft in the precrushing portion and having a lugged outer surface adapted to break material in the portion of the chamber and move the broken portions toward the burr portion of the chamber; radial burr plates in the burr portion of the chamber with part thereof being fixed against rotation to the housing, and part there. of being in gapped relation to the former part and supported on the shaft to rotate with and to move axially thereon; a yieldable flexible collar on the shaft ,ingaging the axially movable burr plate part; a collar adjusting member surrounding the shaft and supported on the housing for axial adjustment in respect to the shaft and adjustable to axially move the collar, the latter member being t-hreadedl y attached to the housing for axially shifting along the shaft; adjusting mechanism connected to the member for threadedly adjusting the member on the housing to reduce or increase the gap between the burr plates.

12. A burr mill comprising: a housing including a horizontal material reducing chamber including alined precrushing and]; burr plate chamber portions, anfd a vertical material delivery chamber offset to one side of the horizontal chamber and opening into the precrushing portion of the material reducing chamber; a horizontal shaft journaled in the housing and extending through the reducing chamber with opposite ends thereof outward; of the chamber; a drum supported in the precrushing portion on the shaft and having a lugged outer surface adapted to break material in the portion of the chamber and move the material toward and into the burr plate portion of the chamber; cooperating burr plates in the burr portion of the chamber with part thereof being fixed against rotation to the housing, and part thereof being supported on the shaft to rotate therewith; an upright shaft supported bythe housing within the material delivery chamber portion; material agitating means on the shaft; a feeder conveyor drive shaft drivingly connected to the upper end of the upright shaft; and drive means extending between an end of the horizontal main shaft and vertical shaft for rotating the latter, the drive means being adjustable to adjust the rate of rotation of the feeder drive shaft in respect to the rate of rotation of the horizontal shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. HARRY F. PEPPER, 1a., Examiner. 

1. A BURR MILL COMPRISING: A HOUSING INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL MATERIAL REDUCING CHAMBER INCLUDING ALINED PRECRUSHING AND BURR PLATE CHAMBER PORTIONS, AND A VERTICAL MATERIAL DELIVERY CHAMBER OFFSET TO ONE SIDE OF THE HORIZONTAL CHAMBER AND OPENING INTO THE PRECRUSHING PORTION OF THE MATERIAL REDUCING CHAMBER; A HORIZONTAL DRIVEN SHAFT SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE REDUCING CHAMBER; A PRECRUSHING DRUM SUPPORTED ON THE SHAFT IN THE PRECRUSHING PORTION OF THE CHAMBER AND HAVING A LUGGED OUTER SURFACE ADAPTED TO BREAK MATERIAL IN THE PORTION OF THE CHAMBER AND MOVE THE BROKEN PORTIONS TOWARD THE BURR PORTION OF THE CHAMBER; RADIAL BURR PLATES IN THE BURR PORTION OF THE CHAMBER WITH PART THEREOF BEING FIXED AGAINST ROTATION TO THE HOUSING, AND PART THEREOF BEING IN GAPPED RELATION TO THE FORMER PART AND SUPPORTED ON THE SHAFT TO ROTATE THEREWITH; AN UPRIGHT SHAFT SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING WITHIN THE MATERIAL DELIVERY CHAMBER; AUGER MEANS ON THE SHAFT INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER AUGER SECTIONS ADAPTED TO MOVE MATERIAL DOWNWARDLY AND UPWARDLY RESPECTIVELY WITH THE LOWER SECTION BEING LATERALLY OPPOSITE THE PRECRUSHING DRUM. 